Bleaching foils

ABSTRACT

Foil applicators for selective lightening of keratinic fibers and methods for selective lightening of keratinic fibers are provided. In an embodiment, a foil applicator contains a first layer comprising a leaf-like substrate and a second layer comprising a bleaching preparation containing a solid peroxodisulfate salt applied to the leaf-like substrate. The bleaching preparation is embedded in a nonwoven supporting material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/EP2011/053436, filed Mar. 8, 2011, which was published under PCTArticle 21(2) and which claims priority to German Application No.102010029206.0, filed May 21, 2010, which are all hereby incorporated intheir entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field relates to a foil-like applicator for the selectivecolor lightening of keratinic fibers, in particular human hair, and tomethods for producing selective lightening effects on human head hairwith such foil applicators.

BACKGROUND

Changing one's outward appearance, in particular changing the color ofone's head hair, is an enduring fashion requirement in society. Inaddition to coloring the hair, lightening the hair is of particularinterest to the user. For that reason lightening agents are inwidespread use, either in the hairdressing sector or by homeapplication. A number of problems arise when coloring the hair—inparticular when coloring the hair by home application. Firstly, naturalcolor shades are completely covered up, making multi-tonal colorsdifficult to achieve. Secondly, the selective lightening of individualsections of the hair, such as fiber bundles, strands and partings forexample, is difficult to achieve without suitable aids. The use ofsuitable aids such as applicators or brushes frequently demandsconsiderable experience and skill, however.

To give the hair a more natural appearance, undyed or dyed hairs areconventionally partially decolorized by the targeted application ofoxidizing agents. Selected sections of the hair (“highlights”) to whichthe oxidizing agent preparation is applied fade during this process,giving rise to a multi-tonal hair color. The oxidizing agent preparationis applied using a brush or applicator, the hair to be treatedoptionally being selected by means of aluminum foil or a “highlightingcap”.

The problem with this procedure is that to produce the actual lighteningpreparation, a bleaching powder is usually mixed with an oxidizing agentpreparation first and then strands and foils have to be wetted. Inaddition, it is often difficult to estimate the amount of applicationmixture required, so fresh mixture has to be prepared subsequently orsurplus mixture discarded.

Therefore in the prior art, in particular WO1993/010687A1, the use ofhighlighting foils or highlighting papers to produce highlights has beenproposed. These are flexible substrates impregnated with an activatorencompassing ammonia or ammonium salts and optionally coloring agentsand foaming agents. The impregnated substrates are treated before usewith an oxidizing agent containing hydrogen peroxide in order to producethe actual lightening preparation and applied by wrapping them aroundthe strand to be lightened.

Mixing on the foil presents a number of disadvantages for the user.Firstly it must be ensured that all foils are treated with the sameamount of oxidizing agent. Secondly, after mixing the oxidizing agentpreparation, the time within which it can be applied to the strand islimited. However, different preparation compositions and/or varyingapplication time periods can lead to undesirable and uneven lighteningresults. There is therefore still a need, in particular for inexpertusers, for easy-to-use applicator forms for the selective lightening ofsections of the hair, in particular for producing highlights.

Finally the use of hydrogen peroxide alone is often not sufficient toachieve a satisfactory lightening result, in particular on dark hair. Toimprove the lightening result, bleach boosters are frequently added tobleaching agents. Peroxo salts are particularly suitable as bleachboosters, in particular peroxodisulfates. Owing to their salt form,however, there are limits to the extent to which these substances can beattached to a substrate or impregnated into a substrate without thesolid peroxo salts crumbling when the foil is folded, reducing thebleaching power. There is also the risk that these salts will becomedetached when the foil is wrapped around the strand, resulting inpronounced bleaching agent gradients within the wrap.

SUMMARY

At least one object herein is therefore to provide bleaching agents inan applicator form that firstly is easy to use. Secondly, thesebleaching agents should enable uniform and improved lightening resultsto be obtained, even on dark hair. The lightening agents should beapplied to a flexible substrate in such a way that the agents do notdetach when the substrate is folded, rolled or shaped in any other way.Finally these lightening agents should avoid the need for the laborioussubsequent preparation of additional application mixture or thediscarding of surplus mixture.

It has now been found that a special applicator in foil form canadvantageously be used for the targeted and selective application oflightening agents if the applicator is a foil onto which a nonwovensupporting material has been applied in which a peroxodisulfate salt hasbeen incorporated.

This form of foil applicator differs advantageously from the prior artin that a markedly improved lightening performance can be achieved. Thenonwoven supporting material that is applied allows the peroxodisulfatesalts to be embedded without detaching, maintaining the flexibility ofthe foil, and because of its structure it ensures that liquid penetrateseasily into the supporting material, thus dissolving the bleach booster.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Therefore firstly provided is a foil applicator for the selectivelightening of keratinic fibers, encompassing

-   -   (i) a leaf-like substrate (A) as the first layer and    -   (ii) a cosmetic bleaching preparation (B) containing at least        one solid peroxodisulfate salt applied to the leaf-like        substrate (A) as the second layer,        wherein the bleaching preparation (B) is embedded in a nonwoven        supporting material.

The terms “foil applicator”, “highlighting foil” and “applicator” areused synonymously below.

The applicator according to an embodiment encompasses a flexiblesubstrate. The flexible substrate can assume any shape and consist ofany material or any mixture of materials that is flexible. “Flexible”within the meaning contemplated herein refers to substrates that interms of shape and materials are structured in such a way that they canbe shaped by manual force, with reversible shaping being preferred. Theflexible substrates according to an embodiment are leaf-like or laminar.“Leaf-like” or “laminar” as used herein means that the spatial extent ofthe substrate in one spatial direction is markedly smaller than in theother two spatial directions, wherein the smallest spatial extent of thesubstrate in the context herein is described as the “height” or“thickness”, while the corresponding extent of the substrate in the twoorthogonal spatial directions is described as the “width” and “length”.These spatial directions fix the surface dimensions of the layer. If thespatial extent of the substrate in the spatial directions that areorthogonal to the height differs, then in the context herein the smallerspatial extent is described as the “width”, the larger as the “length”.

In substrates according to an exemplary embodiment the ratio of width toheight is about 10 to about 1 to about 100,000 to about 1, for exampleabout 50 to about 1 to about 50,000 to about 1, such as about 100 toabout 1 to about 1000 to about 1. In one embodiment leaf-like substrateshave the characterizing feature that their height is about 1 to about1000 μm, for example about 2.5 to about 500 μm, such as about 4 to about250 μm. Length and width of exemplary leaf-like substrates are in therange of from about 1 to about 50 cm, for example from about 2 to about40 cm, for example from about 3 to 35 cm, such as from about 4 to about30 cm.

Another embodiment of the foil applicator has the characterizing featurethat the leaf-like substrate (A) has a thickness of from about 0.5 μm toabout 1 mm, for example of from about 1 μm to about 0.5 mm, for examplefrom about 1.5 μm to about 0.1 mm, such as from about 20 μm to about 0.1mm.

With a view to a stable shaping in the lightening process and takingaccount of the fact that the leaf-like substrate (A) should be able tobe wrapped stably around a hair strand with no further mechanical aids,the use of aluminum foils is particularly suitable. Laminates in whichthe individual layers are glued to one another are suitable inparticular.

In an exemplary embodiment, foil applicators contemplated herein havethe characterizing feature that the leaf-like substrate (A) is analuminum foil.

A cosmetic bleaching preparation (B) that is embedded in a nonwovensupporting material is applied to the leaf-like substrate.

A nonwoven fabric is understood herein to be a static accumulation offibers, which depending on the production method leads to a differentlyconsolidated material. The density of the fibers of the nonwoven fabriccritically determines inter alia the rate of water ingress and egressinto and out of this layer. A nonwoven fabric whose density ensures goodwater ingress and egress is preferred.

Various materials are suitable as the fiber material of the nonwovenfabric. For example, natural fibers such as pulp or cotton fibers,synthetic fibers such as polyester, polyamide, polypropylene orpolyethylene, or bicomponent fibers in which natural and syntheticmaterials have been combined, such as for example pulp in combinationwith polyethylene, are suitable.

As the nonwoven supporting materials should be as chemically inert aspossible under the oxidative, conventionally highly alkaline applicationconditions of bleaching, fibers having the corresponding stability aresuitable. Nonwoven supporting materials made from fibers ofpolypropylene and moreover of polyethylene, polyesters, viscose, as wellas acrylic fibers and polyamide fibers, are examples of suitablematerials. Nonwoven supporting materials made from fibers ofpolypropylene are particularly suitable.

The fiber materials can be produced by various methods, such as forinstance the known wet-laid, dry-laid, melt-blow, spun-laid or air-laidtechnologies. The nonwoven fabric is formed from the optionallyroughened (carded) fibers by consolidation by means of mechanicalneedling (needle-punched nonwoven), spunlacing (water jet consolidation)or spunbonding (thermal, UV or IR consolidation, optionally involvinggluing with certain aqueous dispersions such as polyacrylates, polyvinylacetates, polybutadienes, latex and butadiene-styrene copolymers).

Such nonwovens are known inter alia from cleaning cloths or cosmeticcloths but also from other areas such as liquid or gas filtertechnology.

It has proved useful to give the nonwoven supporting material ahydrophilic finish in order to improve and accelerate the absorption ofwater during application, allowing the peroxodisulfate salts to be usedmore quickly and more completely. Finishing within the context herein isunderstood to mean a chemical and/or physical change of the supportingmaterial, which provides it with certain performance characteristics, inthe present case improved water absorption. The supporting materialsare, for example, finished with anionic surfactants. This type offinishing simultaneously provides a better wetting of the hair by theready-to-use preparation.

As contemplated herein, anionic surfactants have the characterizingfeature of a water-solubilizing anionic group such as a carboxylate,sulfate, sulfonate or phosphate group and a lipophilic alkyl grouphaving approximately 8 to 30 C atoms. The molecule can additionallycontain glycol or polyglycol ether groups, ester, ether and amide groupsand hydroxyl groups. Examples of such anionic surfactants, in each casein the form of the sodium, potassium and ammonium and also the mono-,di- and trialkanolammonium salts having 2 to 4 C atoms in the alkanolgroup, are linear and branched fatty acids having 8 to 30 C atoms(soaps); ether carboxylic acids, in particular of the formulaRO(CH₂CH₂O)_(x)CH₂COOH, in which R is a linear alkyl group having 8 to30 C atoms and x=0 or 1 to 16; acyl sarcosides; acyl taurides; acylisethionates; sulfosuccinic acid mono- and dialkyl esters andsulfosuccinic acid monoalkyl polyoxyethyl esters; linear alkanesulfonates; linear α-olefin sulfonates; sulfonates of unsaturated fattyacids; α-sulfofatty acid methyl esters of fatty acids; alkyl sulfatesand alkyl ether sulfates, in particular of the formulaRO(CH₂CH₂O)_(x)SO₃H, in which R denotes a linear alkyl group having 8 to30 C atoms and x denotes 0 or a number from 1 to 12; mixtures ofsurface-active hydroxy sulfonates; sulfated hydroxyalkyl polyethyleneand/or hydroxyalkylene propylene glycol ethers; esters of tartaric acidand citric acid with alcohols; alkyl and/or alkenyl ether phosphates ofthe formula RO(C₂H₄O)_(x)P(=O)(OH)(OR′), in which R denotes analiphatic, optionally unsaturated hydrocarbon residue having 8 to 30carbon atoms, R′ denotes hydrogen, a residue (CH₂CH₂O)_(y)R, and x and yindependently of each other denote a number from 1 to 10; sulfated fattyacid alkylene glycol esters of the formula RC(O)O(alkO)_(n)SO₃H, inwhich R denotes a linear or branched, aliphatic, saturated and/orunsaturated alkyl residue having 6 to 22 C atoms, alk denotes CH₂CH₂,CH(CH₃)CH₂ and/or CH₂CH(CH₃) and n denotes a number from 0.5 to 5; andmonoglyceride sulfates and monoglyceride ether sulfates. Suitableanionic surfactants are alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates and ethercarboxylic acids.

The foil applicator according to an embodiment has the characterizingfeature that the leaf-like substrate (A) is closely bonded to thenonwoven supporting material of the second layer (ii). To that end thenonwoven supporting material is fixed to the leaf-like substrate beforeor after loading with the bleaching preparation (B), by welding orgluing over the entire surface area or at certain points. Furtherpolymers are optionally used to that end at the desired contact surfacesor contact points, which polymers are selected for example frompolyacrylates, polyvinyl acetates, polybutadienes, latex andbutadiene-styrene copolymers.

Therefore an embodiment herein is a foil applicator having thecharacterizing feature that the second layer is fixed to the leaf-likesubstrate by gluing and/or welding the supporting material. A furtherembodiment is therefore a foil applicator having the characterizingfeature that the second layer is fixed to the leaf-like substrate byspot welding the supporting material.

The entire surface of the leaf-like substrate can be coated with thelayer (ii) encompassing the bleaching preparation (B), or only certainareas of the substrate can be coated. In one embodiment, only the centerof the leaf-like substrate can be coated with the bleaching preparation(B) embedded in the nonwoven supporting material, with for example anuncoated margin of around 0.2 to around 1.5 cm being left on theleaf-like substrate. This ensures that when the strand is wrapped, nobleaching preparation is exposed on the outside of the wrap, thuspreventing an undesired lightening of adjacent hair sections.

The amount and film thickness of the preparation, in particular thesubstrate and preparation masses, are also matched to one another.Highlighting foils as contemplated herein are suitable in which thebleaching preparation (B) makes up at least about 10 wt. %, for exampleat least about 25 wt. %, such as at least about 50 wt. % of the totalweight of the highlighting foil.

The loading of the nonwoven supporting material with the bleachingpreparation (B) can be performed by various methods. The bleachingpreparation (B) of the second layer is either scattered or pressed intothe nonwoven supporting material as a powder or brushed, pressed orrubbed in as a paste or emulsion.

As the substantial constituent the bleaching preparation (B) contains asolid peroxodisulfate salt or two or more thereof to activate andintensify the lightening effect of the preparation.

An embodiment herein has the characterizing feature that the solidperoxodisulfate salt is selected from the group that is formed fromammonium peroxodisulfate, potassium peroxodisulfate and sodiumperoxodisulfate.

In an exemplary embodiment, it has furthermore proved suitable for thebleaching preparation (B) to contain at least two differentperoxodisulfates. Suitable peroxodisulfate salts are combinations ofammonium peroxodisulfate and potassium peroxodisulfate and/or sodiumperoxodisulfate.

The bleaching preparations (B) contain solid peroxodisulfate salts in anamount from about 0.1 to about 80 wt. %, for example from about 1 toabout 60 wt. %, such as from about 2 to about 50 wt. %, relative in eachcase to the total weight of the bleaching preparation (B).

The bleaching agents contemplated herein can contain a further bleachingstrength intensifier in addition to the solid peroxodisulfate salts.

Suitable bleaching strength intensifiers are inorganic peroxo compoundsselected from ammonium peroxomonosulfate, alkali metalperoxomonosulfates, alkali metal peroxodiphosphates and alkaline-earthmetal peroxides. Exemplary bleaching strength intensifiers are potassiumhydrogen peroxomonosulfate, potassium peroxodiphosphate, magnesiumperoxide and barium peroxide.

Compounds which under perhydrolysis conditions yield aliphaticperoxocarboxylic acids having suitably 1 to 10 C atoms, in particular 2to 4 C atoms, and/or optionally substituted perbenzoic acid can likewisebe used as bleach intensifiers. Polyacylated alkylene diamines, inparticular tetraacetyl ethylene diamine (TAED), acylated triazinederivatives, in particular1,5-diacetyl-2,4-dioxohexahydro-1,3,5-triazine (DADHT), acylatedglycolurils, in particular tetraacetyl glycoluril (TAGU), N-acylimides,in particular N-nonanoyl succinimide (NOSI), acylated phenol sulfonates,in particular n-nonanoyl- or isononanoyloxybenzenesulfonate (n- ori-NOBS), carboxylic anhydrides, in particular phthalic anhydride,acylated polyhydric alcohols, in particular triacetin, ethylene glycoldiacetate and 2,5-diacetoxy-2,5-dihydrofuran, are exemplary.

Carbonate salts or hydrogen carbonate salts can be used herein as bleachintensifiers of the carbonic acid derivative type. These are selected,for example, from the group of ammonium, alkali metal (in particular Naand K) and alkaline-earth metal (in particular Mg and Ca) carbonatesalts or hydrogen carbonate salts. Particularly suitable carbonate orhydrogen carbonate salts are ammonium hydrogen carbonate, ammoniumcarbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassiumhydrogen carbonate, potassium carbonate, magnesium carbonate and calciumcarbonate. These salts can be used as bleach intensifiers alone or inmixtures of at least two representatives thereof.

Furthermore, alkyl carbonates, alkyl carbamates, silyl carbonates andsilyl carbamates are suitable bleach intensifiers for use herein.

Bleaching strength intensifiers for use herein can furthermore consistof nitrogen-containing, optionally cationic heterocyclic compounds.Imidazole can be cited in particular as an example of anitrogen-containing heterocyclic bleaching strength intensifier.Particularly suitable nitrogen-containing, heterocyclic bleachingstrength intensifiers are the quaternary cations of pyridines and3,4-dihydroisoquinolines, such as salts of 4-acetyl-1-methylpyridinium,in particular 4-acetyl-1-methylpyridinium-p-toluenesulfonate, salts of2-acetyl-1-methylpyridinium, in particular2-acetyl-1-methylpyridinium-p-toluenesulfonate, and salts ofN-methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium, in particularN-methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium-p-toluenesulfonate.

The bleaching strength intensifiers used in addition to theperoxodisulfate salts are included in the cosmetic bleaching preparationfor example in amounts from about 0.5 to about 30 wt. %, for example inamounts from about 2 to about 20 wt. %, relative in each case to thetotal weight of the bleaching preparation (B).

To further increase the lightening capacity at least one optionallyhydrated SiO₂ compound can additionally be added to the composition as ableach intensifier. Although even small amounts of the optionallyhydrated SiO₂ compounds increase the lightening capacity, the optionallyhydrated SiO₂ compounds can be used in amounts from about 0.05 wt. % toabout 15 wt. %, for example in amounts from about 0.15 wt. % to about 10wt. %, such as in amounts from about 0.2 wt. % to about 5 wt. %,relative in each case to the bleaching preparation (B). The specifiedamounts indicate the content of SiO₂ compounds (excluding their watercomponent) in the agents.

The exemplary embodiments are subject to no restrictions in principleregarding the optionally hydrated SiO₂ compounds. Silicas, oligomers andpolymers thereof as well as salts thereof are suitable. Exemplary saltsare alkaline-earth metal salts and alkali metal salts, in particularpotassium and sodium salts. In an exemplary embodiment, sodium salts areused.

A further embodiment is therefore a foil applicator having thecharacterizing feature that the bleaching preparation (B) additionallycontains at least silica, oligomers or polymers thereof, and/or one ofthe alkali or alkaline-earth metal salts thereof.

The optionally hydrated SiO₂ compounds can be present in various forms.According to an embodiment, the SiO₂ compounds are used in the form ofsilica gels or salts thereof, silicates, for example as water glass.

Likewise suitable are water glasses formed from a silicate of theformula (SiO₂)_(n)(Na₂O)_(m)(K₂O)_(p), where n denotes a positiverational number and m and p independently of each other denote apositive rational number or 0, with the provisos that at least one ofthe parameters m or p is different from 0 and that the ratio of n to thesum of m and p is between 1:4 and 4:1.

In particular, metasilicates, which are characterized according to theformula above by a ratio of n to the sum of m and p of 1 and which canbe regarded as chain-like polymeric structures of the anion [SiO₃]²⁻,can be used. Sodium metasilicate of the formula [NaSiO₃] is particularlysuitable.

In addition to the components described by the empirical formula, thewater glasses can also contain small amounts of further additives, suchas phosphates or magnesium salts.

Water glasses that are suitable are sold inter alia under the namesFerrosil® 119, soda water glass 40/42, Portil® A, Portil® AW and Portil®W and Britesil® C20.

The bleaching preparation (B) can moreover additionally contain apolymer to improve the loading onto the supporting material and inparticular to adjust the viscosity of the ready-to-use lightening agent.Polymers that can be used are non-ionic polymers, for example vinylpyrrolidinone/vinyl acrylate copolymers, polyvinyl pyrrolidinone orvinyl pyrrolidinone/vinyl acetate copolymers, zwitterionic andamphoteric polymers, for example acrylamidopropyl trimethylammoniumchloride/acrylate copolymers, anionic polymers such as for examplepolyacrylic acids or crosslinked polyacrylic acids, natural thickeningagents or thickening agents derived from natural thickening agents, suchas agar-agar, guar gum, alginic acid, xanthan gum, gum arabic, karayagum, carob seed meal, linseed gums, dextrans, cellulose derivatives,starch fractions and derivatives, such as amylose, amylopectin anddextrins, or fully synthetic hydrocolloids, such as polyvinyl alcohol.

It has been found that water-soluble polymers can be used to particularadvantage here. Such bleaching preparations are detached from thesupporting material particularly well in the wrapped hair strands andcan thus be distributed particularly well between the hair fibers. Thisleads to a uniform lightening result. Polymers that are particularlysuitable for use herein are therefore cellulose, cellulose ethers suchas methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose,polyelectrolytes such as alginic acid, xanthan gum, gum arabic, ormodified, natural thickening agents such as reaction products of guargum with chloroacetic acid, with ethylene oxide or with propylene oxide,or polyvinyl alcohol.

The decolorization of hair, in particular hair of a dark initial color,can lead to undesired color shifts. This is because the natural haircolor is determined by melanins in the cortex of the hair fiber, theratio between the two pigment classes, eumelanins with brownish-blacktones and pheomelanins with reddish-orange tones, determining the actualhair color. In the bleaching process the natural melanin dyes aredestroyed by oxidative action, resulting in a decolorization of thefibers. However, owing to the differing oxidative decomposition rates ofthe different melanin pigment classes, hair is not decolorizeduniformly. In darker fibers with a high melanin content a certainproportion of dyes usually remains, which is frequently reflected inyellowish to reddish shades. Therefore the bleaching of darker hair inparticular leads to a color shift towards warmer shades.

Such color shifts towards warmer shades are generally undesirable to theuser. Therefore this color shift is usually counteracted by shading withthe corresponding complementary color in accordance with color theory.The goal is for the bleaching result to give a silvery-cool impression.The person skilled in the art refers to matting in this context.Depending on the initial hair color, a customized mix of tinting agentsis used in order to balance out more reddish color shifts with greenishtinting agents or more yellowish color shifts with somewhat violettinting agents.

Suitable tinting agents are in particular substantive dyes, inparticular ones that are sufficiently stable under the oxidative andhighly alkaline conditions of bleaching.

In a further embodiment the bleaching preparation (B) thereforeadditionally contains a combination of a blue substantive dye and a redsubstantive dye, wherein the weight ratio between the sum of all bluesubstantive dyes and the sum of all red substantive dyes has a valuegreater than or equal to 1. In this way it is possible to avoidundesired color shifts towards pink or rose-colored shades.

Exemplary agents for use herein therefore have the characterizingfeature that the total weight of all blue substantive dyes is greaterthan the total weight of all red substantive dyes. Exemplary agentstherefore have the characterizing feature that the weight ratio betweenthe sum of all blue substantive dyes and the sum of all red substantivedyes has a value from 1 to 100, for example from about 1.5 to about 10,such as from about 2 to about 4.

In principle there are no limits to the choice of substantive dyes.Substantive dyes are conventionally divided into anionic, cationic andnon-ionic substantive dyes. Substantive dyes that can be used herein arenitrophenylene diamines, nitroaminophenols, azo dyes, anthraquinones orindophenols, if these substantive dyes have an adequate resistance tothe harsh conditions of the bleaching process.

The bleaching preparation (B) in an embodiment contains as a bluesubstantive dye an anionic substantive dye, selected in particular fromcompounds with the name bromophenol blue or tetrabromophenol blue.

The bleaching preparation (B) in an embodiment contains as a redsubstantive dye an anionic substantive dye, for example from the groupof fluorescein dyes. Suitable red substantive dyes are known under thenames Acid Red 92, Acid Red 98, Acid Red 94, Acid Red 87 and Acid Red51. Acid Red 92 (also D&C RED No. 28 or Phloxin B) is particularlysuitable.

Dye combinations that are suitable for use for matting in the bleachingpreparation (B) are those containing at least the combination oftetrabromophenol blue and Acid Red 92, tetrabromophenol blue and AcidRed 98, tetrabromophenol blue and Acid Red 94, tetrabromophenol blue andAcid Red 87 or tetrabromophenol blue and Acid Red 51.

To increase the stability of the bleaching preparation and to avoid apremature reaction to water, it is convenient for the bleachingpreparation (B) embedded in the nonwoven supporting material to beanhydrous.

Anhydrous as used herein means that the bleaching preparation has awater content of less than about 5.0 wt. %, for example less than about1.0 wt. %, for example less than about 0.1 wt. %, such as less thanabout 0.05 wt. %, relative in each case to the total weight of thebleaching preparation.

The anhydrous bleaching preparation (B) that is applied to the leaf-likesubstrate embedded in the nonwoven supporting material can be in asolid, semi-solid, liquid, disperse, emulsified, suspended or gel form.In one embodiment the bleaching preparation is in solid form.

The bleaching preparation can contain further auxiliary substances,active ingredients and additives. These include in particular, wherechemically possible, waxes and oils that allow a dedusting of thepreparation and optionally a simplified application on or embedding inthe supporting material.

Suitable waxes and oils are in particular esters of mono- orpolycarboxylic acids with a total carbon number from 18 to 57 carbonatoms and in particular mineral oils, such as paraffin oil.

It has furthermore proved advantageous for the bleaching agentpreparations to contain a stabilizer or complexing agent. Exemplarystabilizers are phenacetin, alkali benzoates (sodium benzoate) andsalicylic acid.

Also suitable is the use of complexing agents. Complexing agents aresubstances that are capable of complexing metal ions. Exemplarycomplexing agents are chelating agents, which form bonds with a metalion via multiple coordination sites.

All complexing agents of the prior art can be used in the contextherein. Exemplary complexing agents are nitrogen-containingpolycarboxylic acids, in particular EDTA, and phosphonates, suitablyhydroxyalkane or aminoalkane phosphonates, such as1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonate (HEDP) or the disodium or tetrasodiumsalt thereof and/or ethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphonate (EDTMP)or the hexasodium salt thereof and/or diethylenetriamine pentamethylenephosphonate (DTPMP) or the heptasodium or octasodium salt thereof.

Lightening agents for keratinic fibers have the characterizing featureof having an alkaline pH. A further embodiment consists in that theready-to-use agent has a pH in the range of from about 7.0 to about12.0, for example from about 8.0 to about 11.0. The pH valuescontemplated herein are pH values measured at a temperature of about 22°C. Acidifying and alkalizing agents commonly used in cosmetics arefamiliar to the person skilled in the art for adjusting the pH. Thealkalizing agents that can be used for adjusting the pH are typicallychosen from inorganic salts, in particular alkali and alkaline-earthmetals, organic alkalizing agents, in particular amines, basic aminoacids and alkanol amines, and ammonia. Exemplary acidifying agents arefood acids, such as for example citric acid, acetic acid, malic acid ortartaric acid, as well as dilute mineral acids.

It has however been found that in one embodiment bleaching preparations(B) that are suitable for use herein have the characterizing featurethat they additionally contain an inorganic, solid alkalizing agent.This alkalizing agent at least partially dissolves on contact with wateron the hair strand and thus establishes the alkaline pH required forbleaching processes. The inorganic alkalizing agent for example isselected from the group formed from sodium hydroxide, potassiumhydroxide, calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, sodium phosphate,potassium phosphate, sodium silicate, potassium silicate, sodiumcarbonate and potassium carbonate. The compositions for example containthe alkalizing agents in amounts from about 0.2 to about 25 wt. %, suchas from about 0.5 to about 10 wt. %.

To ensure that the foil applicator is easy to handle and that thebleaching preparation is rapidly released or dissolved, in an embodimentthe second layer containing the bleaching preparation (B) is notembedded in the nonwoven supporting material too great a thickness.Suitable film thicknesses are for example from about 5 to about 200 μm.

An embodiment therefore has the characterizing feature that the cosmeticbleaching preparation (B) has a film thickness from about 5 μm to about200 μm, for example from about 10 μm to about 150 μm, for example fromabout 15 μm to about 120 μm, such as from about 20 μm to about 100 μm.

After mixing the bleaching preparation (B) with an aqueous oxidizingagent preparation (OX), the ready-to-use lightening agents are appliedby being brought into contact with the strand to be treated. The aqueousoxidizing agent preparation (OX) in an embodiment contains hydrogenperoxide as the oxidizing agent.

To that end an aqueous oxidizing agent preparation (OX) is added to thebleaching preparation of the foil applicator either immediately beforethe hair strand to be lightened is separated or after separation, alongwith the hair strand to be lightened. This is done either by sprayingusing conventional spray bottles or by spreading with the aid of anapplicator or brush. Through the penetration of water into thewater-permeable supporting material of the second applicator layer thebleaching preparation (B) is dissolved and together with the oxidizingagent preparation (OX) forms the ready-to-use lightening agent. Thestrand to be treated is then wrapped in the applicator foil, wherein theoutside of the wrap is formed completely from the leaf-like substrate sothat adjacent hair sections do not come into contact with the bleachingpreparation. After the desired contact period the foil applicator isremoved and the treated hair section is rinsed thoroughly.

The oxidizing agent preparation (OX) contains at least hydrogen peroxideas the oxidizing agent in a cosmetic carrier. Hydrogen peroxide itselfis in an embodiment used as an aqueous solution. Hydrogen peroxide canhowever also be used in the form of a solid addition compound ofhydrogen peroxide with inorganic or organic compounds, such as sodiumpercarbamide, polyvinyl pyrrolidinone n H₂O₂ (n is a positive integergreater than 0), urea peroxide and melamine peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide is for example contained in the ready-to-use agent inan amount from about 0.1 to about 25 wt. %, for example from about 1 toabout 20 wt. %, such as from about 4.5 to about 9 wt. %, calculated ineach case against 100% hydrogen peroxide and relative to the totalweight of the ready-to-use agent.

The cosmetic carrier of the oxidizing agent preparation (OX) is aqueous,alcoholic or aqueous-alcoholic. For the purposes of hair bleaching suchcarriers are for example creams, emulsions, gels orsurfactant-containing foaming solutions, such as for example shampoos,foam aerosols or other preparations which are suitable for use on thehair. An aqueous carrier contains at least about 40 wt. %, for exampleat least about 50 wt. %, of water. As contemplated herein,aqueous-alcoholic carriers are understood to be hydrous compositionscontaining about 3 to about 70 wt. % of a C₁ to C₄ alcohol, inparticular ethanol or isopropanol. The agents herein can additionallycontain further organic solvents.

In another embodiment, one or more of the complexing agents describedabove in the oxidizing agent preparation (OX) are used to stabilize thehydrogen peroxide.

Oxidizing agent preparations contemplated herein are for examle aqueous,free-flowing preparations. The agents can contain surface-activesubstances selected from anionic and non-ionic, zwitterionic, amphotericand cationic surfactants.

Non-ionic surfactants and emulsifiers contain as a hydrophilic group apolyol group, a polyalkylene glycol ether group or a combination of apolyol and polyglycol ether group, for example. Suitable compounds arein particular addition products of 1 to 50 mol of ethylene oxide and/or0 to 5 mol of propylene oxide with linear and branched fatty alcoholshaving 8 to 30 C atoms, with fatty acids having 8 to 30 C atoms and withalkyl phenols having 8 to 15 C atoms in the alkyl group and alkylpolyglycosides corresponding to the general formula RO—(Z), in which Rdenotes alkyl, Z sugar and x the number of sugar units.

Examples of zwitterionic surfactants are betaines. A suitablezwitterionic surfactant is the fatty acid amide derivative known underthe INCI name Cocamidopropyl Betaine. Amphoteric surfactants that aresuitable for use herein are N-alkyl glycines, N-alkyl propionic acids,N-alkyl aminobutyric acids, N-alkyl iminodipropionic acids,N-hydroxyethyl-N-alkyl amidopropyl glycines, N-alkyl taurines, N-alkylsarcosines, 2-alkyl aminopropionic acids and alkyl aminoacetic acids.Amphoteric surfactants by way of example are N-cocoalkylaminopropionate, cocoacylaminoethyl aminopropionate and C₁₂-C₁₈ acylsarcosine. Cationic surfactants of the quaternary ammonium compound,esterquat and amidoamine type are suitable for use in ready-to-useagents. Exemplary quaternary ammonium compounds are ammonium halides,such as alkyltrimethylammonium chlorides, dialkyldimethylammoniumchlorides and trialkylmethylammonium chlorides, as well as theimidazolium compounds known under the INCI names Quaternium-27 andQuaternium-83.

In an embodiment anionic, non-ionic, zwitterionic and/or amphotericsurfactants and mixtures thereof can be used.

The oxidizing agent preparation (OX) can contain further activeingredients, auxiliary substances and additives. Further activeingredients, auxiliary substances and additives that can be used are forexample anionic polymers (such as carbomers, copolymers andcross-polymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, itaconicacid and optionally further non-ionic monomers); non-ionic polymers(such as vinyl pyrrolidinone/vinyl acrylate copolymers, polyvinylpyrrolidinone and vinyl pyrrolidinone/vinyl acetate copolymers andpolysiloxanes); zwitterionic and amphoteric polymers (such asacrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium chloride/acrylate copolymers andoctylacrylamide/methyl methacrylate/tert-butylaminoethylmethacrylate/2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate copolymers); thickening agents(such as agar-agar, guar gum, alginates, xanthan gum, gum arabic, karayagum, carob seed meal, linseed gums, dextrans, cellulose derivatives,e.g. methyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose, starch fractions and derivatives such as amylose, amylopectinand dextrins, clays such as bentonite or fully synthetic hydrocolloidssuch as for example polyvinyl alcohol); texturizing agents (such assugars, maleic acid and lactic acid) and consistency modifiers (such assugar esters, polyol esters or polyol alkyl ethers); proteinhydrolysates (in particular elastin, collagen, keratin, milk protein,soy protein and wheat protein hydrolysates, condensation productsthereof with fatty acids); perfume oils; conditioning oils;cyclodextrins; defoaming agents such as silicones; dyes and pigments tocolor the agent; light stabilizers (in particular derivatizedbenzophenones, cinnamic acid derivatives and triazines); further fatsand waxes (such as fatty alcohols, beeswax, montan wax and paraffins);swelling and penetrating substances (such as glycerol, propylene glycolmonoethyl ethers, carbonates, hydrogen carbonates, guanidines, ureas andprimary, secondary and tertiary phosphates); opacifiers (such as latex,styrene/PVP and styrene/acrylamide copolymers); pearlescent agents (suchas ethylene glycol mono- and distearate and PEG-3 distearate);propellants (such as propane-butane mixtures, N₂O, dimethyl ether, CO₂and air) and antioxidants.

The person skilled in the art will select these further substances inaccordance with the desired properties of the agents. With regard tofurther optional components and to the amounts of these components used,reference is expressly made to the relevant manuals known to the personskilled in the art, for example Kh. Schrader, Grundlagen and Rezepturender Kosmetika, 2^(nd) Edition, Hüthig Buch Verlag, Heidelberg, 1989.

In addition to the possibility of applying hydrogen peroxide to the foilapplicator via the oxidizing agent preparation (OX) and thus providingthe ready-to-use lightening agent with the bleaching preparation (B),there is also the possibility of placing hydrogen peroxide in solid formon the foil applicator and generating the ready-to-use lightening agentby bringing it into contact with water or an aqueous preparation.Hydrogen peroxide in solid form is understood herein to mean additionproducts of hydrogen peroxide with solid compounds.

Hydrogen peroxide can form addition products with many inorganic andorganic compounds. They include addition products with urea(ureα-hydrogen peroxide addition compound, UHP, hydroperite, perhydrolurea, hydrogen peroxide-carbamide, percarbamide), melamine (melamineperoxide) and polyvinyl pyrrolidinone (PVP-n H₂O₂) as well aspercarbonates, in particular sodium percarbonate and magnesiumpercarbonate, and perborates, in particular sodium perborate.

It has been found that for stability reasons it is convenient tophysically separate the bleaching preparation (B) from the hydrogenperoxide addition products to begin with, as even slight traces ofmoisture can lead to instabilities and undesired decompositions.Therefore, in an embodiment, the foil applicator is covered with afurther layer encompassing a solid oxidizing agent preparation (OX1). Toseparate the bleaching preparation (B) it is particularly advantageousto incorporate an additional interlayer between the oxidizing agentpreparation (OX1) and the bleaching preparation (B) that allows aphysical separation of the two preparations and thus prevents directcontact between the solid preparations. On the other hand it is suitablefor the interlayer to be water-permeable so that the ready-to-uselightening agent is formed following the addition of water or an aqueouspreparation comprising the bleaching preparation (B) and the solidoxidizing agent preparation (OX1).

A further embodiment herein is therefore a foil applicator in the formof a multilayer applicator that has the characterizing feature that theapplicator additionally contains

-   -   (iii) a water-permeable barrier layer applied to layer (ii) and    -   (iv) a solid oxidizing agent preparation (OX1) containing as        oxidizing agent a solid addition product of hydrogen peroxide        with organic or inorganic compounds, applied to the barrier        layer (iii).

The solid oxidizing agent preparation (OX1) of layer (iv) contains asolid addition product of hydrogen peroxide with organic or inorganiccompounds. Hydrogen peroxide can form addition products with manyinorganic and organic compounds. They include addition products withurea (ureα-hydrogen peroxide addition compound, UHP, hydroperite,perhydrol urea, hydrogen peroxide-carbamide, percarbamide), melamine(melamine peroxide) and polyvinyl pyrrolidinone (PVP-n H₂O₂) as well aspercarbonates, in particular sodium percarbonate and magnesiumpercarbonate, and perborates, in particular sodium perborate.

In an embodiment the oxidizing agent preparation (OX1) contains a solidaddition product of hydrogen peroxide with organic or inorganiccompounds, which is selected from addition products with urea, melamineand polyvinyl pyrrolidinone.

The oxidizing agent preparation (OX1) contains the solid additionproduct of hydrogen peroxide with organic or inorganic compounds in anamount from about 0.1 to about 60 wt. %, for example from about 1 toabout 50 wt. %, such as from about 2 to about 30 wt. %, calculated ineach case as 100% H₂O₂ and relative to the total weight of the solidoxidizing agent preparation (OX1).

In an embodiment the solid oxidizing agent preparation (OX1) is alsoembedded in a nonwoven supporting material. In principle the nonwovensupporting materials used can be the same as the nonwoven supportingmaterials of the second layer (ii) described above. Supporting materialsthat are inert in respect of the oxidative environment of theready-to-use lightening preparation are likewise suitable here. Nonwovensupporting materials made from polypropylene are suitable in particular.

The supporting materials are likewise given a hydrophilic finish toencourage the penetration and storage of water in this layer (iv). Thisaccelerates the dissolution of the solid oxidizing agents, simplifiesthorough mixing and thus shortens the contact period and improveswetting of the hair to be treated.

In addition to the oxidizing agent itself, the solid oxidizing agentpreparation (OX1) can also contain further constituents, such as solidconstituents. Such further active ingredients, auxiliary substances andadditives that can be used herein are the substances described above,such as for example further interfacially active compounds, complexingagents, anionic, cationic or non-ionic, natural or synthetic thickeningagents, texturizing agents and consistency modifiers, conditioningsubstances such as protein hydrolysates, conditioning oils; further fatsand waxes; swelling and penetrating substances; opacifiers andpearlescent agents.

Layer (iv) encompassing the oxidizing agent preparation (OX1) forexample has the same dimensions in terms of length and width as layer(ii). In order to adjust the proportions of each preparation to oneanother, it is suitable to achieve this adjustment through differentfilm thicknesses.

An embodiment herein has the characterizing feature that the solidoxidizing agent preparation (OX1) of layer (iv) has a film thicknessfrom about 5 μm to about 200 μm, for example from about 10 μm to about150 μm, for example from about 15 μm to about 120 μm, such as from about20 μm to about 100 μm.

To separate the bleaching preparation (B) and the solid oxidizing agentpreparation (OX1) the foil applicator advantageously contains aninterlayer or barrier layer (iii). This barrier layer is sandwichedbetween layers (ii) and (iv). It has at least the surface dimensions oflayer (ii).

Layers (ii), (iii) and (iv) for example each have the same length andwidth and lie on top of one another with no lateral overlapping.

The interlayer (iii) is water-permeable, so when layer (iv) is wettedand the bleaching preparation is dissolved, a penetration of water intothe bleaching preparation of layer (ii) is allowed. At the same time theinterlayer should prevent a premature reaction between the constituentsof layers (ii) and (iv) by direct contact, in particular in the presenceof atmospheric moisture.

To this end the interlayer can have a lattice-like or woven structure oralternatively a nonwoven structure, with in each case suitable pores oropenings that allow the passage of water and aqueous preparations. Thewater permeability can be influenced by the weave, the yarn densityand/or the weight per unit area. Suitable materials for the interlayerare inter alia cellulose, viscose, pulp, polyethylene, polyethyleneterephthalate, polypropylene, polyester, polylactate and mixturesthereof. Preferred materials for such an interlayer (iii) arepolypropylene.

A further embodiment of a water-permeable interlayer (iii) consists ofproducing the interlayer (iii) from a water-soluble compound. Polymersthat are swellable, erodible and/or soluble in water are suitable inparticular. The term “soluble in water” should be understood to meanthat a complete hydration takes place and a solution forms. The term“swellable in water” should be understood to mean that on contact withwater, water molecules penetrate into the layer, leading to changes involume and shape and possibly forming a gel. The term “erodible inwater” means that the interlayer disintegrates on contact with water.This results in smaller fragments, which can be further eroded withwater or washed away. Complete solubility in water is not necessary forerodibility, however. In this embodiment the interlayer (iii) is in filmform. Exemplary materials for the interlayer (iii) are cellulose,inulins, cellulose derivatives, in particular hydroxyalkyl cellulosesand carboxyalkyl celluloses, and polyvinyl alcohols and polyvinylacetate-polyvinyl alcohol copolymers.

An embodiment herein has the characterizing feature that thewater-permeable interlayer (iii) has a film thickness from about 0.1 μmto about 100 μm, for example from about 0.5 μm to about 50 μm, such asfrom about 1 μm to about 50 μm.

The interlayer (iii) and the oxidizing agent preparation layer (iv) areclosely bonded to the bleaching preparation layer (ii), for example bygluing and/or welding, such as by spot welding.

To prevent premature reactions of the exposed layer of the foilapplicator with moisture, in particular atmospheric moisture, duringstorage, it is advantageous to cover this layer with a water-impermeablefoil.

A further embodiment is therefore a foil applicator of the firstsubject-matter, which has the characterizing feature that the applicatorencompasses as an additional layer (v) a peelable, water-impermeablefoil by means of which the uncovered surface of the bleachingpreparation layer (ii) or of the oxidizing agent preparation layer (iv)that is exposed to the air is completely covered.

In another embodiment layer (v) as the peelable foil has the samesurface dimensions as the leaf-like substrate of layer (i). Thewater-impermeable foil of layer (v) is bonded to the uncoated margin ofthe leaf-like substrate by welding. The welded bond should be structuredsuch that the foil of layer (v) can be manually peeled away from layer(i) without great effort and without detaching the further activeingredient layer or layers. This can be achieved by means of the surfacefinish of the layers and by welding and is known to the person skilledin the art.

Polyethylene, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate as well aspolylactide (polylactic acid) are suitable in particular aswater-impermeable foil materials for layer (v).

The foil (v) for example has a film thickness from about 0.01 μm toabout 20 μm, such as from about 0.05 μm to about 5 μm.

The water-impermeable foil is peeled off manually immediately beforeuse, thus exposing the reactive bleaching preparation and/or oxidizingagent preparation of the foil applicator.

The foil applicators are used for the selective lightening and bleachingof keratinic fibers.

Another embodiment also provides a method for lightening keratinicfibers, which has the characterizing feature that a foil applicatorconsisting of at least two layers encompassing

-   -   (i) a leaf-like substrate as the first layer and    -   (ii) a bleaching preparation (B) containing a solid        peroxodisulfate salt and embedded in a nonwoven supporting        material applied to the leaf-like substrate as the second layer,        is treated on the side of the bleaching preparation with an        oxidizing agent preparation (OX) containing in a cosmetic        carrier at least hydrogen peroxide,        immediately after which at least one bundle of keratinic fibers        is laid on the foil applicator prepared in this way and wrapped        in the foil applicator,        left in the foil applicator for a contact period of about 10 to        about 60 minutes, then the foil is removed and the bundle of        keratinic fibers is rinsed.

The bundle of keratin-containing fibers to be treated is for example abundle or strand of human hair that has been selected and separated fromthe remaining head hair. Prior to treatment the bundle ofkeratin-containing fibers to be treated is separated from the otherfibers using a comb or another suitable aid.

Depending on the size of the foil applicator, two or more bundles ofhair can also be wrapped, wound or packed simultaneously into a foilapplicator. Certain sections of the hair bundle only, such as the tips,partial lengths, or the entire hair fiber lengths up to where they jointhe scalp can be wrapped.

If the foil applicator encompasses a protective layer in the form of apeelable, water-impermeable layer (v), this is removed immediatelybefore use. The wrapping, winding or packing of the fiber bundle takesplace in such a way that the leaf-like substrate (A) of layer (i) formsthe outside of the pack, while the bleaching preparation (B) of layer(ii) can come into contact with the selected fiber bundle.

The treatment with the oxidizing preparation (OX) takes placeimmediately before the fiber bundle is packed into the applicator.Depending on the viscosity, the oxidizing agent preparation can beapplied with a brush, with a spray bottle or using an aerosol can in theform of an aerosol or fine mist, directly onto the foil applicator priorto wrapping or onto the selected fiber bundle with the not yet wrappedfoil applicator underneath it.

Depending on the needs and wishes of the user, individual or multipledifferent strands distributed throughout the hair can be wrapped in thisway. Localized, cumulated or evenly distributed reflexes and highlightscan be produced on the hair in this way. Preferably, multiple strands ofhead hair are wrapped in foil applicators to achieve uniform lighteningresults.

The contact period is about 10 to about 60 minutes, for example about 30to about 45 minutes. The contact phase can take place at roomtemperature or at elevated temperatures from about 40 to about 45° C.The application temperature is however suitably room temperature.Depending on the contact period and temperature, different intensitiesof lightening results can be obtained, with higher temperatures and/orlonger contact periods leading to a more intense lightening.

At the end of the contact period the foil applicators are removed, thetreated fiber bundles are rinsed with water and optionally treated withcommercial shampoos and conditioners.

All that has been stated in respect of the foil applicators hereinapplies with necessary alterations to further embodiments of the methodsherein.

In the case of multilayer foil applicators encompassing a solidoxidizing agent preparation (OX1) in addition to the bleachingpreparation (B), activation with water alone is sufficient. Thirdlyprovided is a method for lightening keratinic fibers, which has thecharacterizing feature that a multilayer foil applicator encompassing

-   -   (i) a leaf-like substrate as the first layer and    -   (ii) a bleaching preparation containing a solid peroxodisulfate        salt and embedded in a nonwoven supporting material applied to        the leaf-like substrate as the second layer,    -   (iii) a water-permeable barrier layer applied to layer (ii) and    -   (iv) a solid oxidizing agent preparation (OX1) containing as        oxidizing agent a solid addition product of hydrogen peroxide        with organic or inorganic compounds, applied to the barrier        layer (iii),        is treated with water on the side of the oxidizing agent        preparation (OX1),        immediately after which at least one bundle of keratinic fibers        is laid on the foil applicator prepared in this way and wrapped        in the foil applicator,        left in the foil applicator for a contact period of about 10 to        about 60 minutes, then the foil is removed and the bundle of        keratinic fibers is rinsed.

The bleaching preparation and the oxidizing agent preparation on thefoil are wetted with water immediately before application in order to beused.

In an alternative application form one or more of the foil applicatorsloaded with bleaching preparation and oxidizing agent preparation can bewrapped around a wet bundle of keratinic fibers such as for example awet strand of human hair. It makes no difference whether the hair strandis separated from the wet hair and is still sufficiently wetted orwhether the hair strand is isolated from the dry hair and wettedimmediately before being wrapped in the foil applicator. For lighteninglonger hair in particular, however, it makes sense to isolate a bundleof keratinic fibers or a strand from the dry hair, to wet this bundle orstrand thoroughly, and to wrap this bundle wetted in this way in thefoil applicator for lightening. A spray bottle is suitable in particularfor wetting the strand.

All that has been stated in respect of the preceding subject-mattersherein applies with necessary alterations to further preferredembodiments of the method herein.

The use of these foil applicators in combination or in close successionwith further color-changing and shape-changing agents, such as forexample oxidative lightening and/or coloring agents, is likewisepossible and can be used correspondingly by the person skilled in theart or the user according to his needs and wishes. Natural, attractivecolor reflexes and highlights can be obtained in this way in particularin uniformly colored hair or in a naturally very homogeneous hair color.Alternatively, strong contrasts and accents are possible within the hairstyle with more intense lightening.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in theforegoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vastnumber of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that theexemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and arenot intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of theinvention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description willprovide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map forimplementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that variouschanges may be made in the function and arrangement of elementsdescribed in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope ofthe invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legalequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A foil applicator for selective lightening ofkeratinic fibers, the foil applicator comprising: a first layercomprising a leaf-like substrate; and a second layer comprising ableaching preparation containing a solid peroxodisulfate salt applied tothe leaf-like substrate, wherein the bleaching preparation is embeddedin a nonwoven supporting material.
 2. The foil applicator according toclaim 1, wherein the leaf-like substrate is an aluminum foil.
 3. Thefoil applicator according to one of claim 1, wherein the second layer isattached by gluing and/or welding the nonwoven supporting material tothe leaf-like substrate.
 4. The foil applicator according to claim 1,wherein the solid peroxodisulfate salt is chosen from ammoniumperoxodisulfate, potassium peroxodisulfate and sodium peroxodisulfate.5. The foil applicator according to claim 1, wherein the bleachingpreparation additionally contains silica, oligomers or polymers thereof,and/or one of alkali or alkaline-earth metal salts thereof.
 6. The foilapplicator according to claim 1, wherein the bleaching preparation has afilm thickness of from about 5 μm to about 200 μm.
 7. The foilapplicator according to claim 6, wherein the bleaching preparation hasthe film thickness of from about 10 μm to about 150 μm.
 8. The foilapplicator according to claim 7, wherein the bleaching preparation hasthe film thickness of from about 20 μm to about 100 μm.
 9. The foilapplicator according to claim 1, wherein the foil applicatoradditionally comprises: a water-permeable barrier layer applied to thesecond layer; and a solid oxidizing agent preparation containing as anoxidizing agent a solid addition product of hydrogen peroxide withorganic or inorganic compounds, wherein the solid oxidizing agentpreparation is applied to the water-permeable barrier layer.
 10. Thefoil applicator according to claim 9, wherein the foil applicatorcomprises as an additional layer a peelable, water-impermeable foil bymeans of which an uncovered surface of the bleaching preparation or ofthe solid oxidizing agent preparation that is exposed to air iscompletely covered.
 11. A method for lightening keratinic fibers,wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a foil applicatorhaving a leaf-like substrate and a bleaching preparation containing asolid peroxodisulfate salt applied to the leaf-like substrate, whereinthe bleaching preparation is embedded in a nonwoven supporting material;treating the foil applicator with an oxidizing agent preparationcontaining hydrogen peroxide in a cosmetic carrier; immediatelythereafter, laying a bundle of keratinic fibers on the foil applicatorand wrapping the bundle in the foil applicator; leaving the bundle ofkeratinic fibers in the foil applicator for a contact period of about 10to about 60 minutes; removing the foil applicator; and rinsing thebundle of keratinic fibers.
 12. A method for lightening keratinicfibers, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing amultilayer foil applicator having; a first layer comprising a leaf-likesubstrate; a second layer comprising a bleaching preparation containinga solid peroxodisulfate salt applied to the leaf-like substrate, whereinthe bleaching preparation is embedded in a nonwoven supporting material;a water-permeable barrier layer applied to the second layer; and a solidoxidizing agent preparation containing as an oxidizing agent a solidaddition product of hydrogen peroxide with organic or inorganiccompounds, wherein the solid oxidizing agent preparation is applied tothe water-permeable barrier layer; treating the multilayer foilapplicator with water on a side with the solid oxidizing agentpreparation; immediately thereafter, laying a bundle of keratinic fiberson the multilayer foil applicator and wrapping the bundle in themultilayer foil applicator; leaving the bundle of keratinic fibers inthe multilayer foil applicator for a contact period of about 10 to about60 minutes; removing the multilayer foil applicator from the bundle ofkeratinic fibers; and rinsing the bundle of keratinic fibers.